Just two months shy of his 79th birthday, Dick Voneugen is no spring chicken.
His best days as an athlete rolled by six decades ago when he was a competitive provincial-level cyclist in his native Holland.
But Voneugen is not the kind of guy who sits back in his rocker waiting for life to pass him by. If he's not home, chances are he's out skating, having a run, or going for a swim. In the words of Neil Young, it's better to burn out, than it is to rust.
The B.C. Seniors Games were made for guys like Voneugen, whose competitive spirit lives on undiminished, even on days when his body starts to feel the test of time. In the 24-year history of the Games, he's only missed it three times and he plans to be there in the West Kootenays when Trail, Castlegar and Nelson co-host the 2011 Games, Aug. 16-20.
At Seniors Games, you don't have to be a "senior" to enter. Eligibility starts at age 55, but in Zone 9, the jurisdiction Voneugen oversees as zone co-ordinator, the younger crowd has been hesitant to sign up.
"We're really trying to appeal to the younger age groups, the people who are 55-57," said Voneugen. "There seems to be a reluctance on their part to be labeled under Seniors Games, but when you see the performances from those people, they're awesome.
"When people get into their 60s and 70s and they rediscover it, they're having a ball. We've got people who have gone to the Games 20 or 22 years. They love it. They renew old acquaintances and get to see a different part of the province and it's a barrel of fun."
And once they're hooked on Seniors Games, chances are they'll make a point of coming back every year. Arna Kristian of Prince George went to the 1992 Games in Dawson Creek, where she was reunited with May Turek and Myrtle Acton, her high school friends from Birch Hills, Sask. They hadn't seen each other since 1951. They make a point of coming back to the Seniors Games as often as they can.
Voneugen points to the example of 92-year-old Olga Kotelko, a Saskatchewan farmgirl now living in Vancouver, who owns 23 world records. Kotelko competed at the 2010 world Masters Indoor Games in Kamloops, where she ran the 100 metres in 23.95 seconds and cleared the high jump bar at five-foot-six.
"She didn't start track and field until she was 77," said Voneugen. "Olga is regularly at the senior Games in the ninth age group and she's still going strong."
Voneugen has been heavily involved in track and field at Seniors Games but his arthritis and a hamstring injury that never healed properly will limit him to participation this year in the racewalking event.
"I was old when I was 40 and I'm still that way," joked Voneugen. "The last two years I can notice some changes, some arthritis that attacked my lower back but I took some medication and visited a physiotherapist/chiropractor and he really helped me.
"This year after the Iceman, I developed problems in my shoulders, wrists, hands and it's definitely arthritis. But I'll go [to Seniors Games] regardless and do the best I can."
Doctors estimate regular exercise adds six or seven years to your lifespan. If you're sitting on the fence trying to decide, there not much better reason than that to start training for Seniors Games.
For more information, go to www.bcseniors games.org or call Voneugen at 250-962-7672.
2011 B.C. Seniors Games
Aug. 16-20 in Castlegar, Trail and Nelson
Individual or pairs sports
Archery, badminton, cycling, darts, equestrian, golf, horseshoes, mountain biking, pickleball (it's played on a badminton court using a solid paddle and a wiffle ball), swimming, tennis, table tennis, track and field.
Team sports
Carpet bowling, bocce, dragon boat racing, five-pin bowling, floor curling, ice curling, ice hockey, slo-pitch, soccer.
Recreational games
Bridge (duplicate and social), cribbage, one-act plays, whist.
